Maeg’s View Book Review: Stalling For Time: My Life As An FBI Hostage Negotiator by Gary Noesner

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Welcome back to our 5th book for Maeg’s View Book Review! This one was a good one as this is totally up my alley of books I like to read. It sounds bad but I love a good true story with some wins and losses so when I saw this book I thought it would be so interesting (plus I’m currently on a Criminal Minds binge on Disney+). Lets dive in!

“In Stalling for Time, the FBI’s chief hostage negotiator takes readers on a harrowing tour through many of the most famous hostage crises in the history of the modern FBI, including the siege at Waco, the Montana Freemen standoff, and the D.C. sniper attacks. Having helped develop the FBI’s nonviolent communication techniques for achieving peaceful outcomes in tense situations, Gary Noesner offers a candid, fascinating look back at his years as an innovator in the ranks of the Bureau and a pioneer on the front lines. Whether vividly recounting showdowns with the radical Republic of Texas militia or clashes with colleagues and superiors that expose the internal politics of America’s premier law enforcement agency, Stalling for Time crackles with insight and breathtaking suspense. Case by case, minute by minute, it’s a behind-the-scenes view of a visionary crime fighter in action.”

Questions:

What was your favourite part of the book?

I’d have to say my favourite part is learning what hostage negotiators do all while reading about the true stories that we’ve heard or watch on tv. This book has a lot of detail about those events and what went wrong.

Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn?

At the begin it was a slow burn but once you get into the events that you know and heard about you want to keep reading and he keeps you engaged.

Which scene has stuck with you the most?

The scene that stuck with me the most would have to be the Waco situation; I knew about it but I didn’t know how things went so wrong. In this book he explains how most hostage negotiations are set up but he also talks about the other half with tactical waiting to go in all while they’re trying to stop a big mess from happening. As we know shit hit the fan with this situation and he explains why, which create tension and makes his job harder in the long run.

Are there any areas you wished the author had elaborated upon further?

Yes, in the book he obviously talks about his life and career up to these points and about the events but I also wish he made a chapter teaching about negotiations. Throughout the book you get some information but it’s mostly “it takes practice” which I completely agree with but also reading about what to say or not to say, your body language, your tone and training your body to be calm in crazy situations would be interesting as well.

Did this book make you want to explore the subject matter more?

I think it did. I made me look further into the situations he talked about and not to mention, as I said I’ve been binging Criminal Minds, one episode came on which made me think to myself that this sounds very familiar. I looked up what the episode was based on and it was based on some of the events he talks about in the book. It blew my mind as I had just read his book and now, I’m seeing it based on the show. I also think more people should read this to learn more about staying calm in situations, as I said it’s not blunt information about how to negotiate but there’s still educational bits in there that we could use in our everyday lives.

Well that’s all for Stalling For Time! Let me know in the comments if you’ve read this book before and what you thought!

Thanks for reading,

Maeg

Maeg’s View Book Review: Becoming a Son by David Labrava

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Welcome back to our 4th book for Maeg’s VIew Book Review! The first time I saw David Labrava on Sons of Anarchy I loved his character and looked him up and just knew he would have an interesting life. When I found out he wrote a book I had a read it. Lets dig in!

“Becoming a Son is the first book written by David Labrava. David writes from life experience as he has lived more lives than most people ever will, and he did it all over the globe. David is an accomplished Glass artist, Tattoo artist, Five Diploma Harley Davidson Motorcycle Mechanic, Producer, Director and an award winning Writer and Actor. David is a member of the most famous and notorious motorcycle club in the world. David was the Technical Advisor on the hit TV series Sons of Anarchy from the inception to the completion of the series. David was also a series regular on the show, reaching that position after being hired as the technical advisor, then becoming a day player actor, then a recurring character then moving to series regular. All of these things had to be earned, as they were not for sale at any price. Becoming A Son is not about them. It’s about David getting to those spots. It’s about overcoming great odds and coming out alive. David left home at fifteen years old and hit the streets. This is David’s journey of discovery and redemption spanning a course of forty years. From the beaches of Hawaii and California, to the forest of the great Northwest, to years in Amsterdam, San Francisco, New York City, Miami then back to California. David hit some highs and survived severe lows, living years on the streets, in and out of jail only to take his life back, and then squeeze every bit out of it that life has to offer. Becoming A Son is a journey of epic proportion. It’s about realizing your dreams and then against the odds achieving them. Adventuring across the globe David learned many lessons by reaching out and trying everything, making many mistakes and paying the price for it and living through it. Now he wrote about it. David has been writing and getting published for over 14 years. He wrote for the Motorcycle magazine ‘The Horse’ then had his own column in the National Hot Rod Magazine ‘Ol Skool Rodz’ for eight years. He co-wrote Episode ten in season four of SOA which Time magazine awarded an honorable mention to as best of the season. David also won the 2013 Readers Choice Buzz focus award for Best Wildcard Actor. Like great authors before him Labrava takes the reader into some dark places most people would never dare to go. Becoming A Son is a modern day story of living on the street and redemption, it is one man’s journey into the darkness of himself crossing the planet and transcending all levels and then coming back again full circle. It is an inspiration for anyone who is chasing their dreams and making them their reality. Becoming A Son will come to be known as an instant classic.”

Questions:

What do you think of the writing?
Let’s start by saying this is a self-made book that he got a little help with. I personally think he rushed through the book as there was simple mistakes that could have been fixed if he just went through it one or two more times. I do think he did a good job at make his first book though, he had a very interesting life.

What surprised you most about the book?
The thing that surprised me the most was his life. The first time I saw David Labrava was on Sons of Anarchy which I loved his character and naturally you look up the cast. I had found out that some of them were actually apart of motorcycle clubs in real life so I looked up them and found Labrava’s book. When you see someone on tv you just think they had a good upbringing because that’s how we see them now, when I started to read I found out that his life was very different from you or I.

Are there lingering questions from the book you’re still thinking about?
My one question is why not continue? Or at least make a second book. At the time this was written he probably just got the job and was starting out but why not make another one to tell the rest of his story as Sons of Anarchy was a long running show.

What did you learn from hearing this person’s story?
You can learn a lot from this book. Even though he made some questionable choices with the drug usage he came through out in the end. He was strong willed, determined and smart, he could get out of situations and he always found a job to get him. Eventually after hitting rock bottom he turned he’s life around by landing one of those jobs.

All and all this was a good and interesting book to read and I highly suggest it. If you do end up reading it or already have read it answer the questions in the comments or ask your own questions!

Thanks for reading,

Maeg.

May Favourites 2021!

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Let’s Go Eco Reusable Tote Bags

I’ve been trying to be more eco friendly in my life so I’ve slowly been making changes. Using a reusable coffee filter, dry balls instead of dryer sheets, reusable bags instead of Ziploc bags and more. I have bags I bring to the grocery store but they’re not made to carry food, it’s like those Roots bags or they’re thin and break as soon as you put 3 packages of meat in them. I was throwing out more than I should be! My Mum found this site because it gives you those seasonal box sets and she knows I’m trying to find good reusable stuff. I told her these bags were cool and to my surprise she ordered them for me and shipped them to my house! Best Mum and these are the best bags. I went to the store the other day to pick up some essentials we ran out of and used them, because they have sorting pockets on the inside it evenly distributes the weight and prevents you from cutting off circulaton to your hand and arm. My Mum got these off letsgoeco.com and the 2 pack is $30. I will definately be ordering more!

Zenni Optical

So I finally went to the eye doctor after not going for years and needed to get new glasses. Glasses are so expensive especially if you get name brand frames, some frames alone are $200 and then you have to pay for the frames and everything else on top of that. My family has used Zenni and they love it so I thought I would give it a try since were in a pandemic and all! I research glasses and tried them on virtual for about 2 weeks to try to find the ones that I would really like. Eventually I just kept coming back to the same pair so that’s how I knew they were the ones. They tell you the measurements and everything so I could compare them to my old glasses to make sure I didn’t get a pair that had things I didn’t like about my old pair. I also got prescription sunglasses so I can actually see while I’m driving in the sun (I’m short, the visor doesn’t work!). My glasses frames were $40 and sunglasses frames were $55 then you pay for lenses and anything else you want to add on. I got the bluelight blockers for my glasses as I’m either watching tv, on my phone or using my laptop, my sunglasses I got them mirrored and polarized and 2 cases. In total it was about $300 but if you break that down $7 for each case and $143 for each pair of glasses. That’s not a bad deal considering some frames alone are $143! Check them out if you need classes and compare the prices to other sites aswell!

Botanica Modular Hanging Garden Planter

At my apartment I have a long but narrow balcony, of course I want to put plants and make it beautiful but having planters on the ground takes up room. I looked into getting a plant shelf but that sold out by the time I blinked. Everyone in my apartment was getting those planters that sit on top of the railing which is nice but I’m 6 floors up and if one of those falls off that could be bad. I decided to get something that would hang on the inside so if it fell it just fall onto the balcony. I ordered these from Canadian Tire and they come in a set of 2 and you don’t have to hang up one below the other! I set up the straps, plants my plants and put up the planters side by side with a little space in between and it looks nice! Plus I have space on my floor! My plants have been growing like crazy as they’re in the sun more and the colour is nice; it comes in grey and terracotta. I got this set for $50.

Thanks for reading,

Maeg

Maeg’s View Book Review: World Wild Vet by Evan Antin

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It has been awhile! I’m back with the 3rd book of Maeg’s View Book Review! I first randomly found Evan Antin on instagram because he’s a good looking vet but then I saw he was into exoic animals which I find interesting since my boyfriend has had many reptiles and more. I saw he was releasing a book and I was interested in his adventures!

“Millions follow Dr. Evan Antin and his wildlife adventures through social media and on his popular Animal Planet television show Evan Goes Wild. Now in his first book, World Wild Vet, Evan takes us to the deep blue seas, swimming with giant whale sharks with “puppy dog eyes,” to jungles filled with venomous snakes (who are more afraid of you than you are of them), to a race across the savannah and against the clock to save rhinos from the clutches of poachers–all in the name of adventure and a deep love for the wild around us.

Equal parts memoir, travelogue, and conservationist wake up call, World Wild Vet is an unforgettable exploration of the world we all call home and a love letter to the creatures we share it with.”

Questions:

What do you think motivated the author to share his or her story?
At the start of the book I think he just wanted to share his story as he has so many adventures but I think the whole goal was to raise awareness on all these different types of animals, their safety and how to treat them.

What did you learn from hearing this person’s story?
I learned a lot from this book about different things. I biggest one is that wild animals are wild and you can never forget that. I know a lot of people, even me, love animals so much that we forget it is an animal and they can hurt us. For example, on one of his adventures he ran into wild elephants on the middle of the road. The driver of the truck stopped and immediately started to drive in reverse as fast as he could while the elephant charged at the truck. They were in their way and they wanted them gone. He said he didn’t even think the elephant would do that because they’re sweet creatures in our minds.

How does the book’s title work in relation to the book’s contents?
I think the book’s title is absolutely perfect for this book. When you think of a vet you mostly think dogs and cats, but for Evan Antin he is more than that, he’s snakes, reptiles, rhinos, whales and more. If you read this book take a look at his Instagram as it’s amazing and educational.

What surprised you most about the book?
The thing that surprised me most was how young and crazy he was. When you see his Instagram he talks about these animal and showing them the respect they deserve, but in his book when he’s young he does some stupid things. Just shows that everyone learns stuff the hard way and everyone does things they shouldn’t even when educated.

Would you want to read another book by this author?
Absolutely! If you look at his Instagram he is constantly going on adventures to help animals all over the world and that comes with stories and education for people to read.  

This is definately an easy read with some great stories (and photos) so take a look and answer the questions in the comments!

Thanks for reading,

Maeg.

April Favourites 2021!

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CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream

For some reason no matter what I did I would wake up with dry tight skin. I wanted to find something that hydrates and restore the skin barrier since it was so tight. I follow a dermatologist on Instagram who made a post about dry skin, and what products to look for; she suggested CeraVe so I decided why not? I went to Shoppers Drug Mart and tried it that night. This is the best product I’ve used in a long time. It’s thick enough that it hydrates all night and you do not need to reapply it. It’s a small jar but it last awhile as you don’t need a lot. You can get this for $26 at Shoppers Drug Mart and Walmart.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

As you can tell this post is about me revamping my skin care! My body was the same as my face, no matter what I tried it was still dry when I woke up. Because the night cream worked so well I decided to try the body cream and boy am I in love! I haven’t had dry skin since I started using this; this is also amazing on dry feet. Lockdowns in Ontarios means no pedicures so everyones feet are a little rough, in attempts to make them better I put the cream on my feet before bed and it helped a great deal. You can get a 539g container for $28.

Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Face Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50

I used to use First Aid Beauty Face Sunscreen but when I needed more I couldn’t find it anywhere, not even on their own website so that led me to believe it was discontinued. Now I was on the hunt to find a new one for my indecisive skin! I wanted something that was still going to provide moisture, especially if I’m being in the sun, something that works with sensitve skin and an SPF of 30 or higher. I found Aveeno and decided to try it and so far so good! It’s light weight, absorbs into the skin so you don’t feel like you have that nasty sunscreen feeling, it comes in a small enough tube that you can put it in your purse to reapply and a little goes a long way but not too little! I always opt for an actual sunscreen rather then SPF makeup for a couple of reasons, the first I barely wear makeup and second with makeup SPF you’d have to cake on the makeup to actually get the protection you’re looking for from the SPF. I got this at Shoppers Drug Mart for $18.

Thanks for reading,

Maeg.

March Favourites 2021!

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Picture taken from Google

Dr. Martens

I have wanted these for a long time and finally got them because they were a Christmas gift! I love the look of them and I heard they were extremely comfortable once you broke them in. I got them at Christmas and started breaking them in right away, it does take some time as they are real leather and they’re boots. You can’t wear thin socks with them but I usually wear those Puma ones you get from Costco and my feet are fine. I don’t wear them everyday so my feet can get a break plus you’re suppose to let your shoes breathe for 24 hours or something like that. I wear them all day long at work and my feet aren’t too bad but they’re worth it! They are pricey but if you have always wanted them I highly suggest to go for it. They’re usually around $200 on most site.

GelMoment Kit

With lockdowns brings boredom and constantly trying to find something to keep yourself busy, for me I started to paint my nails. However, regular nail polish sucks and chips off the same day you painted them.
My friend told me about this product she started to sell and said it was completely worth it as the nail polish stays for 2 weeks. I waited and thought about it then went for it. It’s the best thing I’ve ever bought. It’s a gel nail polish set, it’s 2 steps to put it on, easy removal at home, and it’s thin (I’ve seen other ones that were really thick.) It’s non toxic, eco-friendly, salon quality, long lasting, vegan friendly, olvent-free, lead-free, latex-free, cruelty-free, no Toluene, no Dibutyl Phtalate, no Formaldehyde, no Formaldehyde Resin, and no Camphor.
It’s so easy and fun to use, they have stamping kits, nail care and much more for you. My family has become obsessed with this and now I do my nails all the time because I know it’s going to last. Check out the website as there is different prices for the kits and products that you want. http://www.gelmoment.com

Sherpa Jean Jacket

As I’ve said above lockdowns is pretty much constantly looking for things to do or keep you busy, for many shopping has been one of those things. My boyfriend started to watch a show called Yellowstone (if you haven’t seen it, go watch it it’s on Amazon Prime) so I started to watch some parts with him even though I eventually went back and watched it all. At one point in the show I saw a woman put on a sherpa lined jean jacket and instantly wanted it. I haven’t had a jean jacket since I was a child and thought it was about time. I saw that Marks Works Warehouse had one that was pretty close to the one I saw on the show so I bought it. Now I live in Canada so I will 100% wear a sherpa verison of a jean jacket than I would a regular one so I guess it depends where you live. This was at Marks for $150.

Thanks for reading,

Maeg.

February Favourites 2021!

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Magic Bag

My Mum has this thing and it’s the best thing ever so I asked for it for Christmas. You can get them in different sizes for different parts of your body but I wanted the neck/shoulder/upper back one as that’s where I’m usual sore on my body from work. It is a thermotherapeutic pack that acts as a compress, it has some weight to it as it is filled with grains. You can use it hot or cold, you mircrowave it in 30 sec intervals if you want it hot and it stays warm for 30mins. If you want it cold you can put it in the fridge or you can freeze it for 4 hours. It’s natural and reusable and its the best thing for soreness, not to mention it’s actually relaxing. I actually had no idea where you could get this so I had to look it up, Walmart and Shoppers has it and they’re different prices for the difference sizes. For the neck and shoulder one it’s roughly $30.

Massage Gun

These are the next best things for your muslces. My boyfriend got sick of massaging me (even though I still get him to do it) but I use this when he’s not home and I’m sore. It comes with different massage heads for different parts of the body (joints, large muscle groups, vertebral positions), it’s rechargable and it works well. It has some power to it so I would start out on low depending how sore you are or if you’re using to prevent soreness. These massage guns are everywhere now and you don’t need to spend $500 on one. He got mine off of Amazon and they range from $99-$500 so do your research on them before you buy and remember you don’t need to spend a crazy amount on the brand name verison.

Joseph Joseph DrawerStore Compact Cutlery Organizer

So this is all over Tiktok because Joseph Joseph products are the best. If you have been following my blog you know that I am obsessed with their stuff, their stuff is compact and makes organizing easy.
I live in an apartment so space in limited and I actually only have one drawer for cutlery so It needs to be organized. I had one of those regular cultery bins but I didn’t like it as it took up too much space in the drawer. With this one everything is off to one side but it’s still organized! My cutlery drawer is a work in progress but eventually I will show a picture of what it looks like just like I did with my pantry. I got this at Bed Bath & Beyond for $21.00!

Thanks for reading,

Maeg.

Maeg’s View Book Review: A Promised Land by Barack Obama

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We’re back with our second book! It’s only fitting to read Barack’s book after reading Michelle’s book, plus I really wanted to see what he had to say. He did not disapoint – holy information! While I was half way through reading the book I looked up the website and realized this is volume one so there will be more book we will have to read! Let’s get into it!

“In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency—a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.

Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office.

Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorizes Operation Neptune’s Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.

A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective—the story of one man’s bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of “hope and change,” and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.

This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama’s conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day

Questions:

Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn?
I think it was a little bit of both. Some parts of the book were not that interesting but it was a major thing he had to overcome being the President. Also, I attempted to read as much as I could as fast as I could because I did find most parts interesting and it was 701 pages

Do you think the author was honest?
100% I thought he was honest and that was the best part of the book. While being president he has to watch what he says, how he says it or if he should even say it at all. With this book you get to hear his honest side of the story and his actually thoughts of what was going on at the time.

What did you think of the author’s voice and style? Did the quality of the writing match the story?
You know when Obama does his speeches and you try to focus on what he’s saying but all you really notice is how well spoken he is and the way he talks you could just listen to him for hours with his deep voice? That’s all I could hear in my mind as I read the book, I even told my Mum that this would be great to hear the audio version because it would be in his voice. I think it matched him perfectly, it’s long because he always has so much to say and the words were like the way he talks.

Of all the information presented in the book, what has stayed with you the most?
There’s a couple things that stayed with me the most, which are, I still hate politics, republicans prevent a lot of good things from happening and they make some laws that don’t make sense to me at all. The president is literally the one person who has stopped a lot of nuclear wars and they’re pretty much is the worlds business because they just straight up have to be. If you read the book you completely understand what I mean about all those things. There’s so much information in this book that it just blows your mind.

What did you Google while reading the book?
The one thing I noticed while reading this book was there’s A LOT of nuclear bombs in the world so I googled it. The little blurb that popped up said there is 3,750 nuclear bombs that are currently active around the world. In total there is 13,890 nuclear bombs but all except those 3,750 are in storage and not active.

What was your favourite part of the book?
My favourite part of the book would have to be the last chapter. Not because it was the end of the book but because it was about Obama getting Bin Laden. September 11th, 2001 was awful. I’ve watched and read a lot about this topic and would love to go to New York as it is an amazing place to start with but it’s a place that it strong as hell to come back from that. I’ve read a lot of books about Bin Laden and the planning; I’ve watched Zero Dark Thirty and all that but to hear the presidents’ side is interesting as hell. Not to mention Trump started to show up in this chapter so I’m assuming in his next book(s) that is going to be a topic

I know a bunch of you have read this book so answer the questions in the comments!

Thanks for reading,

Maeg.

January Favourites 2021!

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Felt Letter Board

Jumped on the bandwagon! My mum got me the light up one which I love but I usual use it for special occasions. This one I wanted to be more decor for my house. To my surprise the good quality ones are kind of on the expensive side but I kind of get that at the same time. So I got this one at Chapters for $39.50, it comes with the small board which is 25cm x 25 cm, it’s soild oak frame and real felt; not to mention it comes with 315 white letters. I wasn’t expecting that much letters for some reason cause even the light up one you have to buy extra pieces for it. Needless to say this was a great purchase and I really just put smart ass sayings on it.

Charcuterie Board

Everyone loves a charcuterie board! They’re just so appealing to the eye, the food tastes great and it’s actually pretty easy to make. My Mum got me this one for Christmas and I love it! It’s super nice and I love the shape, it’s easy to clean and you just store it like you would a cutting board. I left the paper it comes with around it because we all know men don’t read things so at least it’ll make him question why the hell there’s paper on it in hopes he won’t use it as a cutting board! I’m not sure where my mum got this one but I found it at Linen Chest for $19.95 but you have find them everywhere!

On Boards: Simple & Inspiring Recipe Ideas to Share at Every Gathering

My Mum being my awesome Mum paired the board with this book for charcuterie boards! I used this on New Years to make a board, it gives you tips on where to place the big stuff then you fill it in, made it extremely easy, it also has a bunch of different boards for different themes and places around the world! You can get this book at Chapters for $25!

Thanks for reading,

Maeg.

Maeg’s View Book Review: Becoming by Michelle Obama

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Welcome to Maeg’s View Book Review!
I’ve never actually been in a book club so bare with me! I’m just a lover of books and wanted to share my thought and am curious to hear your thoughts! I’ll be answering a couple of questions about the book which I hope that encourages you to go out and read it then come back to answer the same questions in the comments! Lets get started with our very first book Becoming by Michelle Obama.

“In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
 
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.”

What was your favourite part of the book?
I would have to say in general getting to see how a First Lady’s life is as we don’t really hear about that in everyday news when it comes to a presidential family.

Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn?
I did start to read this book awhile back when I first got it but for some reason, I just couldn’t get into it. On my second attempt at reading it, I raced to the end to finish it.

Did this book make you want to explore the subject matter more?
I would say yes. I personally don’t like politics and I think I related with Michelle because she doesn’t like them either. However, reading about an African American growing up with not much and making it all the way to being First Lady is an amazing story. She has overcome a lot and has a lot to say about helping others that came from the same place as she did. She did so much as a First Lady and that doesn’t really get talked about; I wonder what other First Ladies have accomplished.

Of all the information presented in the book, what has stayed with you the most?
The one part that blew my mind was when Michelle was talking about the Presidents Motorcade. Everyone knows the whole family gets Secret Service agents and bulletproof cars and such but learning what one man gets, everywhere he goes is absolutely insane. In the start she talks about how everything was insane and uncomfortable especially the men just following them around but you get use to it and they became friends with them. Its refreshing to hear someone who is in that position to be uncomfortable just like the rest of the world would be.

What did you learn from hearing this persons story?
I learned that the world has a lot of work to do when it comes to racism, sexism and in general just being a better place. When Michelle talks to her guidance counsellor, she was straight up told she wasn’t Princeton material just because of her skin colour even though she had the grades. Or when people judged her during her speeches saying she was an angry black lady even though she was a passionate woman. It sickening that all of these are still a problem in the world even though it’s now 2021!

Are there any people in the book whose perspective you wanted?
Well yes, the obvious one is Barack Obama, which we all get to read now that his book is out but I would like to hear the kids perspective. They were kind of thrown into this world and grew up at a time where they would remember all the details of living in the White House.

That was a first good start! Now if you have read the book, answer the same questions in the comments or add any other questions you want me/others to answer! Lets start a conversation!

Thank you for reading,

Maeg.